Trap-nest.



J. I. AULT.

TRAP NEST.

AXPLIGTION FILED MAR. 14. 190e.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l..

J. I. AULT.

TRAP NEST.

APPLICATION FILED M1144, 190s.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

YJ. I. AULT.

TRAP NBST. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 14., 1908.

Patented Sept. j28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEY l JOSEPH I. AULT, OF COLUMBUS, INDIEANU TRAP-NEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten sept. 2s. i909.

1 Application filed March 14, 1908. Serial No. 421,098. v

' To all 'whom fit-'may concern:

apo

. Be it known that I, JosnPi-iI. AULT, citizen of the United States, residing at Colunibus, iii the county of Bartholomew and State of Indiana, vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trap Nests, -of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. l My invention relates to improvements in trap nests for hens, as hereinafter described in the specification and particularly lpointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to construct a trap nest for hens or other domestic fowls, whereby the eggs laid by the hen or other fowl occupying the trap-nest are recorded as they are laid. I attain this object by rmeans'of. the trap-nest illustrated iii the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views. y

Figure 1v is a longitudinal vertical sectional lview showing the interior arrangement of the trap-nest, and taken along the line 1-1 in Figs. 21and 5; Fig. 2 is a sectional top view of the saine taken alongtlie -lines 2--2y in- Figs. 1 and 4; Fig. 3 is a rearl lend 4elevational view showing the exit door;

Fig. 4 is aside elevational view of the trapl nest; Fig. lis a top'view of the saine; Fig.

6 is a front and elevational view showing theentrance doors of the trap-nest; Fig. 7 is a top view of the egg receiving table; Fig. 8 isa side view of the saine; Fig. 9is a detail view of the pencil holding plate; Fig. 10 is a side view of the saine, and Fig. 11 `is a transverse section of the. box showing the inclined floor thereof, and taken along the' line 11,-11 in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

The inclosing box of the trap-nest consists of the side walls 1, the top cover 2, the open entrance and 'exit ends 3 and 4 and the supporting feet 5, whereby the box is supported and held 4at'a distance froni the ground. Intermediate the open entrance and exit ends of the box is situated the transversely extending partition 6, which is provided with the open passage way 7 which latter is sufficiently large to permit a hen o r other domestic fowl to pass ltherethrough from the first compartment of the box to the rear compartment thereof. 5A sliding board 8 is situatedin the interiorof said box to extend transversely thereofl infront of and against the intermediate partition 6, and

integral piece, and

said sliding board is provided with the top' projecting portion 9 which extends through an opening forined in the topcoven 2 to be pivot-ally connected tothe rear end of the bar 10. The bar lOvextends forwardly to the standard 11, situated at the forward end of' Vthe top cover 2, to which the forward end of said bar is pivotally connected.

v The entrance doors 12 are hinged to the box by the hinge pins 13 to open outwardly,

and connected to the doors 12 are the counterbalance weights 14 which are suspended froni said doors to extend over the tops and outer sides of the arms l5, so that said coulitelbalance weights will tend to open and niaintain the doors 12 open.

The stepping board 1G extends froni the front portion 'of the inclined floor 17 with an easy angle of inclinationtoithe ground, and the saine is provided for the purpose of forming a gangway for the hen or other 'fowl to enter the trap by way of the hopper portions 18 and 19 situated over the inclined floor.

The forward portion 18 of the hopper is Situated over the front portion of the inclined floor 17 at the open entrance end of the box. The said hopper portion ispivoted to the side walls 1 of said box by the pivotal laxle 1S, so that its longer inner end will swing downwardly when the hen steps thereon to 'almost touch the forward edge of the rear portion 19 of the hopper. The side standards 20 extend vertically from the front side portions ofthe forward portion 1S of thel hopper, and/links 21 connect the top ends of said standards to the entrance doors 12, ,so that when the inner end of the forwar'd portion 1S of 4the hopper is swung downwardly, as by a hen `stepping thereon, the top ends of the said standards 2,0 will swing inwardly to4 close Athe doors 12, and to prevent a hen eiiteringthe trap when'occupied and during its occupation by any other hen. The rear hopper port-ion is coinposed of the rear 'inclined nest portion 19 and the `horizontal portion 22, which are connected by the neck portion 23 to forni one 'l said horizontal portion is pivoted at its sides to the side walls 1 of the box by the pivotal pins 22a so that the frontend of the nestpor'tion 19 will rise sufficiently-,above the rear end of the hopper portion 18 to provide an opening sufficiently large to perniit an egg to pass' therethrough ioo to and through the opening lf in the in- 4 vo bearing 45 secured to the. rear bottoni side nand at ornear the top end of the bar 2l l suspended' at its upper end fromthe project-'- as a. counterbalance' to hold the pawl25 .rollerI 30".upon which the record paper 31 is. .wound as '1t is u'sed, 1s situated at the rear 'sliding board A8 andl under the lower edge of the latterto and around the roller 30 to be clined floor 17, 'fand at the same time, to l cause the necessary fall of thei'ezr portion '22 of the rear hopper portion to impart theY proper amount of ti'aifel to the pawl carry# ingbar 2l. The pawl carrying bar 24 is situated at and pivotally connected to the` end of one side of the rear portion 22 of the 'rear hopper portion, and extends vertically sutliciently far to project through an opening' formed in the top cover of the box,

is pivotally .connecjed thereto the pawl 25 which latter is linnted in its motion by the stop pins 26andiQ-7. The paWl 25 is provided with a longer -arni 28 Which operates against the stop pin l26 to engage onefof the ratchet teeth of thefratehet 2.9, which latter is secured on the end of the roller 30. The

top end of the box and 'extends'transversely thereof .and projects into the 'opening 321. formed in the Itop portion-'2 of the box, said roller is provided with tliefend journals which bear inthebearings 34k formed` in the top edges-otl the side Wal1s.l. The roller 35 ieysituated in front of the sliding board' 8 near the inner top `portion 2"and extends transversely of the box, and said roller 35 is mounted on. the rod 36t`o revolve thereon. The rod 36 extends through bores 37 formed in'the side Walls l whereby it is supported. The record paper 31y is .Wound upon the roller 35 and extends along the face' of the wound thereon. A stoppaWl 38` is pivoted tol the pawl carrier 39y secure'dto the top c'oyer portion 2 of the box, and said ypawl is adapted to engage the teeth'op the ratchet Wheel 29 to prevent a backwarc rotation of the latter and the roller 30' ivheieon .said

ratchet is secured.,

' The revoluble table 40 is divided on its top surface into egg receiving compartments 4l by thepartitions 4t2, which latter are closed at their outer ends by the riin e3, and saidA table is secured on the vertical shaft flt.y The y shaft 4.4 is journaled at its top. end in the of the partition 6 and at its bottoni end in the foot bearing 46 formed in the hanger 47, the arms 48 of which extend upwardly tobe secured to the outer bottoni sides of the walls l of the inclosing box. Arranged around the peripheral rim at equal intervals apart, equal to the width of the outer portions of. the compartments 41., are thepins 49 which are adapted to be engaged by the paWl 50.- The pawl 50 isrigidly secured to the free end ofthe paw] carrying bar l'whichbar is ingend portion of the arnr52 which latter extends forwardly from the projecting endv ywhich pointit is suspended so that its free close the doors 12 against an intruding hen,

feaxosaf portion of the bar. 53 which is secan-edto the 'underside of the hopper portion [9, amllhe pivot al point ot' said balais so situated ais-aid arm as to impart the proper throw tothe pawl 50 to revolve the table l() a space? equalto the outer width of a y,comparimeut 4l for each stroke. of said pawl bar. A weight 51a is suspended from the lower end of the bar 50 and the saine is provided ior the purpose of holding the pawl 50 in contact with a pin 49 while' pushing. A. stop pawl 55 is situated at the opy posi'te side of the table 40, and is pivotally connected to the outer side of the wall l from iid will engagevthe pins #i9 to prevent the tf'able Ll0 revolving in a direction opposite Y to that in'which it is dri-ven by the pawl 50. The exit opening of the box iselosed by the door 56, which latter is-hingedly connected to the top cover 2 of the box to swing ,outwardly to open. An opening 57 is formed 1n sald door 56, and the same 1s provided Vtor the purpose of admitting light to' the interior of the box at the exit end thereof, so that 'a hen, sitting in the nest, will be attracted by the light and walk towardv said light opening and open the exit door 56 to go out. y

1 A ypencil carrying board 58, is provided with the pencil 59, Whichpencil is removably Vsecured in the pencil holder 60 to'be at an angle with the board, and saidrfpencil is situated With its pointdirected toward the frontend 61A of said pencil board, so that, 100 when a pencil carryln'g board is secured to the back of each'of the hens, `the point of the pencil carried by each henwill contact with the record paper situated in front of the sliding-board 8 and lnark'thereon as the hen walks from the nest toward the exit door, so that a vseparate and distinct mark "will be niaderby each hen indicating that 'a hen has used the nest and passed through the trap.; In said pencil carrying board are the holes 62 `through.which are passed thel securing cords 63 which latter are looped under the wings of a hen to secure said pencil board to its back.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Suppose lthe .'nest unoccupied by a hen, underavhiehcircumstances the entrance doors l2 are open to admit afh'en desiring to lay. rlhe hen desirous of laying lirst' steps on thesteppingboard 16 andavalks thereonto and through'the entrance 3 to and upon the nest hopper portion 1S which, onV receiving the weight of the hen, swings downwardly at itsrear vend on its pivot to 25 and therebyshut said hen in the box a11d exelude the llights-tronientering therein. The hen will now sit. on the nest composed ot' the `hopper portions 1 8 and l9,.and thereupon v11a-y here' egg, after which she will step on the the point of the-pencil 59 on the pencil. car- 4rying board 5S will. contact tliepreeord paper 31 to mark thesaine as the hen, vin her et forts to walk under the bottom edge of the sliding board'S moves the latter .upwardly to release herself to pass through the openino" 7 formed'in the partition t5, and in so doing will malte a pencil mark on therecord paper 31. The vhen having released-herself from under the sliding board 8 will walk on the rear portion 22 of the hopper portion lt) toward the exit door 5G, being attracted by the light adinittedthrough the 'opening 5T,

' and in so doing will' tip the rear portion 22 of the rear hopper portion dowi'iwardly to move the pawl carrying baril-l downwardly to cause the paivl 25,`pivoted to the top end of said bar, to rotate' the ratchet wheel 2),

through the space of one pitch of the ratchet teeth, and thereby revolve the roller BO'to wind a portion of the-record paper 31 upon itself to move an'iinmarlted portion of said record paper in front ofthe sliding board 8 for the-hen next occupying the nest to mark upon, at the same time, swinging the forward end portionof the hopperportion 19 upwardly siitiiciently far to provide a space between the ends of the hoppers 18 and 19 through which the egg laid by the outgoing hen Will pass and drop through the opening 17 formed in the inclined floor 17 to and into an egg receiving compartment 41 of ,the revoluble table 40. As soon as the hen steps oit' the hopper portion 1S to and upon the inclined weightier portion of the hopper portion 19, the said hopper portion 18 being thus relieved of its weight will rise or swing vupwardly on its pivotal points and the doors A 12 connected to the top ends of the standards 20 will be released and will open bythe gravity of their eoun-terbalance iivfeightsy let.

\'Vhen the outgoing henV pushesthe exit door-'5G open and nies out of thebox re leasing the rear end of the hopper portion -22 of her weight, the forward end of 'the hopper .portion 1t) will descend by its gravity to cause the pawl 50 to revolve the table d0 to move an empty egg receiving compartment 41'under the opening 1Tu jto-receive the egg laid by a hen next occupyingthe nest.

I claim 1 In a trap nest, the combination with an ,plied to said rear horizontalportion A,bmirdsituated in `front ofsaid partition,

:i roller situated to extend transversely of and in trout o'l" said slidlnggboard, and a roller situated toextent'l transversely of said- `box near the rear top portion thereof, a record.

paper'- extendii'ig from said .forward internal rollerl under said .sliding board to and around said rear. internal roller, a ratchet on4 said roller, a pawl, and means connecting said paivl and the rear horizontal portion of said hopper portion` whereby the roller is revolved when the weight of the hen is applied to the rearhorizontal portion of-said hopper portion. p f

ln a trap nestA the combination with an -inclosed box, a partition extending verticallyy and transversely of said box todividelit into forward and rear conipartments, said inclosed box having entrance and exit ends,

a bar situated to extend centrallyfroni the forward. top portion of said box, a block to -ywhich tl'iegsaidl bar is pivoted atits forfward end, a sliding board situated infront,`

of and against the top interior port'ioino'f` said partition, a top projectingl portion pro, jecting through the top, of said box and pivoted to the rear end of said bar, of -aj forward inclined hoppeiiportion a'rear/hop'# per portion having a forward inclined portion and a rear horizontal portion, pivots whereby said rear horizontal portion is pivoted to the side walls ofsaid box to swing vertically, a roller situated exteriorly of ysaid box to extend transversely thereof, said roller situated near the rear end poi'- tion of saidv box, a forward roller situated within said box to extend transversely and in front of said sliding board, a recording paper' extending from the forward internal roller under said sliding board to and around said exterior roller, a ratchet on said exterior roller, a pawl, a rod connecting said pawl` and rear horizontal portion of said rear hopper portion whereby the roller is re'l 1 volved when the weight of the hen is apofthe rear hopper portion.

3. In a trap nest, the combination with an inclosing box having open entrance and exit ends, closing doors at said entrance end and an outwardly swinging door at said exit end, of a forward hopper portion in- `closed in the forward interior bottom portion of said box, means connecting said hopper portion and said entrance doors whereby the latter are closed as the rear end of'said hopper portion is depressed, an inclined floor situated under said hopper portion 'having :i central opening therein, a hopper `portion situated to the rear of said forward hopper port-.ion and pivotallyv connected to the side walls of said box, a revolubleegg receiving table, partitions extending radially inwardly from said rim to divide theiippcr surface of said table into egg/receiving compartment's, and an arm seenredat. its rear end to the rear under side of said rear in'-V clined hopperportion and extending forwardly near the side of said hopper portion,

v a pawl carrying bar suspended from the end of the rear free end of said arm, and a pawl vsecured tothe lower end o said carrying bar whereby when the 'rea-r inclined hopper portion is depressed said pawl'is operated to revolve. said table.

4. In a trap nest, the combination with an Vinclosed box having open entrance and exit ends, said box divided into a forward nest compartment and a rear exit compartment, and a swinging exit door at the exit end of said compartment. of a forward 1nclined hopper portion a r'ar inclined hopper portion situated in the rear of said nest compartment, an 1ncl1ncd floor under said lnclined hopper portion having central openings throughwhichjhe eggs are discharged,

ahorizontal vhopper portion integral with ysaid rear. inclined portionv sitnated .to thel 'to the' peripheral width "of titions extending radially and inwardly from. said run anddividing the top'surfa'ceof .filoo'ra a peripheral krim on said table,` parsaid table into egg receiving compartinents,l

pins projecting' from thel outer peripheral surface, of said rim, an arm secured'y at its rear end to the rear under side of said rear inclined hopper portion and extending forwardly near the side of said hopper portionz Y a pawl carrying bar suspended from the free forward end of said arm, a paWl on the bottom end portion of said bar7 and a Weight at or near the lower end of said bar whereby said pawl is held in Contact with one of said revolving pins, so that, when.

the horizontal portion situated to the rear 'I of the inclined hopper portion isiirst de-" pressed anda-"afterward vreleased s'aid pawl Y \\ill.o] )erate said table through a space equal nie-nt thereof. I

In testimony whereof I 1n presence ofV two wltn'esses Josnr 'I Il Witnesses:

JonN S'roo, M. F. G. VlUTLEn.

affix my signature an egg compz'nrt-j v 

